What Is a Fourth Degree Felony in Ohio?

Several criminal offences are considered fourth degree felonies in Ohio, including grand theft of a motor vehicle, safe-cracking, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, aggravated assault and certain other types of
theft. According to the revised Ohio Criminal Codes, fourth degree felonies are punishable by 6 to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

Ohio law recognizes five classes of felonies, including first, second, third, fourth and fifth. First-degree felonies, which include rape and voluntary manslaughter, are the most serious of these felony crimes, while fifth degree felonies like breaking and entering are the most minor, CriminalDefenseLawyer.com states.

The level of offense often depends on details of the specific situation. For example, trespassing on someone’s property with the intent of committing a criminal offense is a third-degree felony burglary, but the same act becomes a fourth-degree felony if the property owners were present or likely to be present at the time of the offense, according to Attorney Adam Burke.

Theft, receiving stolen property and drug crimes can also be fourth-degree felonies depending upon the value of the stolen property, the type of property stolen or received, and the amount of illegal drugs in question. For example, stealing property or services valued at anywhere from $7,000 to $150,000 is grand theft, a fourth-degree felony; however, the value lowers to between $1,000 and $7,000 when the theft is from a disabled adult or elderly person. Theft of motor vehicles and dangerous drugs are also typically charged as fourth-degree felonies, Avvo reports.